Genetic counseling assists people in identifying potential or manifest genetic problems, understanding their implications, making decisions about what course to follow, and working through psychological and social aspects as they affect individuals or couples. Four ethical principles and related ethical issues pertaining to autonomy, beneficence…

Numerous factors have contributed to increasing debate regarding sexual and intimacy boundaries between clients and therapists. Although having sexual contact with a client within a therapeutic relationship has been defined as unethical behavior, ways to deal with these potential situations have been less well defined. Various ethical dilemmas are…

Identifies three global areas for reserach study: (a) clinical studies, (b) counselor training investigation, and (c) evaluation. Issues such as competency, informed consent, confidentiality and privacy, cooptation and manipulation, no treatment controls, validity and generalizability of results, and authorship are discussed. (Author/BL)

Induced abortion is one of the most controversial moral issues in American culture, but counselor value struggles regarding abortion are seldom addressed in counseling literature. This article considers the conflictual nature of the ethical principles of autonomy, fidelity, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence as they can occur within the…

Outlines a timeline perspective that helps counselors avoid ethical violations and organize the ethical mandates that contribute to effective practice. Ethical considerations are proposed during the initiation phase of counseling, as counseling develops, when a period of crisis arises, and at the termination phase. (Author)

Features an examination of the ethical issues affecting decisions for serving clients when systemic intervention is indicated but critical family members resist engagement. Discussion focuses on conceptual and empirical information concerning engagement for systemic intervention as well as possible solutions to ethical dilemmas that affect…

Counselors work with elderly adults in various health care settings. Often an ethical dilemma arises between client autonomy and counselor beneficence. A case history approach using a critical-evaluative model as a strategy for analysis and resolution of the ethical dilemma is presented. (Author)

Addresses the complex ethical and cultural issues that arise when counseling women, Blacks, ethnic minorities, poor people, lesbians, and gays. Common dilemmas arising from the social context of the counselor-client relationship, the need to respect client autonomy, and the imperative for ethical and quality health care are outlined and discussed,…

Explores ethical issues relative to research and training vis-a-vis racial and ethnic minority groups. (Author)

Results of a survey of ethical dilemmas faced by college counselors are presented. Findings and implications are discussed as they relate to types and frequencies of ethical dilemmas encountered and how they are resolved. A typical ethical dilemma is described. (Author)

Discusses ethical dilemmas inherent in the school setting that result from conflicts in counselor responsibilities to pupils, parents, and school. An ethical dilemma involving a pregnant student who is considering an abortion is described, and some possible counselor responses are discussed. (Author)

Proposes and discusses ethical standards for cross-cultural counselor preparation, practice, assessment, and research. (Author)

When professionals learn of unethical professional practice by a colleague, they have an ethical obligation to intervene through appropriate evaluation and reporting. Sexual activity between a professional and a client is used as an example, and guidelines are provided for initial approach and evaluation, confidentiality, and the rationale for and…

Reviews the empirical research on religious counseling from the last 10 years. Findings show that clergy do most of the religious counseling. Clients are often concerned with challenges or potential challenges to their values. There have been few examinations of religious counseling techniques. (Author/BL)

Proposes that counselors have an ethical obligation to look beyond the client to the environment as part of their assessment process and to develop preventive as well as remedial strategies aimed at mediating environmental effects on the individual. (Author/BL)